Exercise is so important for women in midlife to protect and strengthen the muscles and bones. Some great cardio workouts for women over 40 include jumping rope or box jumps, but women may be hesitant to include the jumping motion in their routines because they’re nervous about injury.
But according to Dr. Vonda Wright, a double board-certified orthopedic surgeon and longevity expert, jumping is key because the hard landing exerts stress on the bones, which strengthens them. And there’s a way to do it that isn’t as intimidating as hopping off on a huge box.
“Sometimes people are afraid to jump up and land hard for a variety of reasons,” she tells Flow Space. “Why we want to land hard is because we need to generate about three to four times our body weight as we land. You do not have to jump up on a 24-inch box—practicing landing hard will get you there.”
All you need is an eight-inch step, such as a stepping stool or a staircase step, to get started. Watch the video above to learn how to incorporate jumping into your movement routine and why it’s so important, especially for women in midlife.
